Sonic carburetor system

ABSTRACT

The sonic carburetor system includes a sound wave producing device positioned in the fuel inlet system for a carburetor in such a manner that fuel is either injected or drawn across the entire active surface of the device. The system includes valving and substitution components which enable the carburetor to operate either in the normal mode or a sonic mode, and a fuel expansion chamber is provided to permit a dispersion of the fuel to occur before the atomized fuel is subjected to the high velocity air stream within the carburetor housing.

United States Patent Thatcher 1 1 Sept. 23, 1975 [54] SONIC CARBURETOR SYSTEM 3,375,977 4/1968 Butterworth et a1 239 102 [76] Inventor: Arthur K. Thatcher, PO. Box 352, FOREIGN PATENTS OR pp c m lsland- 910,357 11/1962 United Kingdom 261/1 22 ik Sept 25 1970 493,912 3/1954 ltaly 26l/DlG. 48 508,582 7/1939 United Kingdom. 26l/l [21] Appl. No: 75,641 966,620 8/1957 Germany 1. 261/1 [52 us. c1. 261/1; 261/67; 261/D1G. 48; Primary EraminerTim Miles 261/44 R; 261/8]; 123/198 E; 239/102 Attorney, Agent, or FirmGa1'diner,'Sixbey, Bradford 51 1111. cu F02M 27/08 & Carlson [58] Field of Search 261/D1G. 48, 1, 44 R, 67,

261/16, 81; 239/102, 123/198 E 57 ABSTRACT [56] References Cited The sonic carburetor system includes a sound wave UNITED STATES PATENTS producing device positioned in the fuel inlet system for a carburetor in such a manner that fuel is either E i-" injected or drawn across the entire active surface of 2683O27 g 2:2 6 I m the device. The system includes valving and substitu- 2732'835 H956 Hum 48 tion components which enable the carburetor to oper- 2:908:443 10/1959 rruen 'iII mm: 43 ate either in the normal mode or a sonic mode, and a 3,016,233 1/1962 Olmstead 261/1 fuel expansion chamber is providfid permit a disper- 3,114,654 12/1963 Nishiyama at 211.12.. 239/102 sion of the fuel to occur before the atomized fuel is 3,155,141 11/1964 Doyle et a1 1 239/102 subjected to the high velocity air stream within the 3,162,368 12/1964 ChOBtE et al, 239/102 arburetor housing. 3,206,124 9/1965 Drayer et al..... .1 239/102 3,329,413 7/1967 Date 261/44 R 10 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 1 0f 3 3,907,940

1 1 Iiiltilllillll I INVENTOR.

Arthur K Thais/1e:

BY Q

QaMoL (,U A

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,907,940

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INVENTOR Ari/7w K. Thatcher us W IZOM

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Ar/hur K. Thatcher SONIC CARBURETOR SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Recent emphasis on the reduction of air pollution has focused attention upon the contamination resulting from vehicles powered with internal combustion engines. The large amount of unburned and partially burned contaminates produced by internal combustion engines not only detracts from the efficiency of the engine, but also contributes appreciably to air pollution; particularly in metropolitan areas.

It has been recognized that inefficient and incomplete fuel combustion within an engine contributes considerably to the air contamination resulting from engine operation, and that incomplete fuel combustion often results from inconsistent molecular suspensions or emulsions of fuel molecules in the input air stream to the engine manifold. Therefore, in an attempt to provide an improved molecular suspension or emulsion of fuel molecules with the air molecules entering the manifold, sonic and ultrasonic carburetor systems have been developed to achieve more intensive fuel atomization.

Most sonic carburetor systems employ sonic or ultrasonic vibrators positioned in the air stream within a carbu retor housing to receive fuel from an input nozzle extending into the housing. In these systems, the fuel is atomized and mixed with the air passing over the vibrator.

Carburetor systems employing a vibrator in the air stream have been subject to several disadvantages. For example, many such systems failed to maintain water droplets and other less volatile components of the fuel in contact with the main area of activity of the vibrating sound producing device, and therefore these less vola tile components were not effectively added to the air stream passing into the intake manifold. This problem was effectively remedied by the novel sonic carburetor structure shown by my copcnding US. Pat. Application Ser. No. 703,333, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,533,606 entitled Ultrasonic Carburetor System.

However, the placement of a sonic vibrating transducer or other device directly in the carburetor air stream results in the passage of a high velocity air stream over the active surface of the transducer. This air stream draws fuel rapidly across and away from the active surface of the transducer, and for effective fuel atomization to occur, a relatively large transducer having a large active surface must be employed. The transducers previously employed in sonic carburetors generally include active surfaces which extend substantially across the carburetor chamber, and a large amount of power is required to drive such transducers at sonic and ultrasonic frequencies. Also, with the transducer positioned within the carburetor, it is difficult to design a carburetor adapted for both sonic and normal operation and the transducer is not readily accessibly for servicing.

Attempts have been made to design sonic carburetors having the sonic transducer at the fuel inlet for the carburetor rather than in the carburetor air stream. These systems generally employ a vibrating nozzle to inject fuel into a carburetor housing. With these devices, most vibration occurs at the nozzle end, and there is little activity along the long axis of the nozzle.

With such devices, fuel atomization is not optimal.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved sonic carburetor system which operates effectively to atomize input fuel with a sonic transducer of small size requiring minimal driving power.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved sonic carburetor system which includes a sound wave producing component positioned so that input fuel is forced across the entire active surface thereof and is maintained in contact with said active surface.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved sonic carburetor system which is adapted both for use in the sonic mode or as a conventional carburetor without sonic atomization of fuel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved sonic carburetor system wherein fuel may be pushed by injection or drawn by induction across the active surface of a sound producing unit.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved sonic carburetor system wherein the sound wave generating unit is readily accessible for servicing or replacement.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon a consideration of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the carburetor of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a second embodiment of the carburetor system of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a third embodiment of the carburetor system of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of an internal carburetor control valve for the carburetor of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of an expansion chamber for the carburetor system of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a sonic transducer operative in the radial mode on an expansion chamber for the carburetor system of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the carburetor system of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the active transducer surface of the sonic transducer of FIG. 7'.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the carburetor of FIG. 1 with a modified vibrator;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a second embodiment of the vibrator for the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of a third embodiment of the vibrator for the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the present invention indicated generally at 10 includes a carburetor 12 having a housing 14 which opens into the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine at 16. The carburetor housing includes an air inlet opening 18 through which combustion air passes to the interior of the carburetor housing, and this opening may be provided with a butterfly valve assembly of the type conventional in internal combustion engine carburetors. In fact, the carburetor 12 may constitute any one of a number of conventional internal combustion engine carburetors, and, for example, the carburetor illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is the type 51). carburetor conventionally employed in such automobiles as the Volvo, Jaguar, Datsun and Toyota. This type of carburetor includes a piston member 20 which is operated in response to vacuum created by the internal combustion engine to move a control valve 22 for a fuel inlet 24 for the carburetor. Conventional carburetor components such as the piston 20 and valve 22 constitute no part of the present invention.

The fuel for the carburetor system may be provided by injection pump or gravity flow from a fuel tank (not shown). This fuel passes from a fuel line 26 to a nozzle 28 which extends into an enlarged expansion chamber 30. The nozzle 28 includes a relatively large fuel orifice which will be less susceptible to fuel clogging by dirt particles and which effectively feeds fuel into the expansion chamber 30 without requiring a high pressure fuel supply source. This use of a large orifice is rendered possible by the novel arrangement of a sound wave producing device within the expansion chamber.

The fuel stream from the nozzle 28 is directed against the active surface 32 of a sound wave producing device 34 which, for purposes of description, will hereinafter be designated as a vibrator. This vibrator preferably constitues an ultrasonic transducer which is excited by an electrical connection 35 to a high frequency circuit,

not shown. It will be apparent that any suitable vibration device capable of producing sound waves of sufficient power may be employed for the vibrator 34, and although ultrasonic frequency sound waves are preferred, lower frequency sound waves may be used if sufficient power is provided.

The relative positioning of the active surface 32 of the vibrator 34 and the nozzle 28 is critical, for to achieve an effective homogenization of all components of the fuel, including impurities, it is necessary to hold the less volatile components of the fuel against the active surface while causing said components to flow across the entire extent of the active surface. This is accomplished by positioning the nozzle 28 to direct fuel on one outer extremity of the active surface 32, so that the fuel must pass completely across the active surface to reach the fuel inlet 24 to the carburetor 12. The active surface of the vibrator is inclined upwardly with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the nozzle 28, and this aids in effectively atomizing the fuel input. The fuel is either driven by injection across the active sur face or is drawn across the active surface by the vacuum within the carburetor housing 14 created by the engine manifold.

As fuel from the nozzle 28 passes across the active surface 32 of the vibrator, the fuel absorbs sound energy which results in the fuel particles being driven apart. When this atomization of fuel occurs in the main air stream between air inlet 18 and the manifold opening 16, an extremely large transducer or other vibrator requiring a high driving power must be employed, and generally the active surface of the vibrator extends substantially across the extent of the carburetor housing. This is due to the fact that a high velocity air stream is passing through the carburetor housing and draws fuel into the housing and across the active surface at an extremely high rate of speed. Therefore, for effective fuel atomization and emulsification to occur, a larger active surface is required.

In the novel embodiment of FIG. 1, the active surface 32 of the vibrator 34 is substantially isolated from the high velocity air stream flowing through the carburetor housing 14. This is accomplished by positioning the vibrator 34 in the fuel inlet system for the carburetor prior to the fuel inlet 24. At this point, the fuel rate of flow is much slower, and a much smaller transducer requiring less driving power may be employed to achieve effective fuel atomization. This is enhanced by placing the vibrator in the enlarged expansion chamber 30 which permits fuel emulsification to occur before the mixture is discharged into the high velocity air stream within the carburetor housing 14.

The use of the expansion chamber 30 with a conventional carburetor for an internal combustion engine facilitates rapid access to the vibrator 34 for the servicing or replacement. In fact, the expansion chamber may be easily removed from the carburetor housing 14 and replaced by a conventional fuel inlet nozzle to permit the carburetor to operate in the normal manner without the sonic emulsification of fuel. This is accomplished by providing a threaded collar or fitting 36 to permit the fuel line 26 to be disengaged from the nozzle 28 and by removably securing the chamber 30 to the carburetor housing 14 by screw threads 38 or other suitable securing means.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the carburetor system 10 of FIG. 1. In this system, the carburetor 12 is horizontally disposed, and the expansion chamber 30 is positioned beneath the carburetor housing. Emulsified fuel from the expansion chamber is directed to the fuel inlete 24 of the carburetor by a conduit 40 which extends into the expansion chamber and terminates with an orifice 42 positioned adjacent the outer peripheral edge of the active vibrator surface 32 which is remote from the nozzle 28. With the expansion chamber below the carburetor housing, a problem can be caused by the condensation of fuel on the inner walls of the expansion chamber. This results primarily from the more volatile, lighter components of the fuel which are atomized by contact with portions of the vibrator active surface 32 adjacent to the nozzle 28 and rise upwardly in the expansion chamber. To draw these lighter fuel particles into the conduit 40 and prevent their condensation on the walls of the expansion chamber, an orifice 44, which may be smaller in diameter than the orifice 42, is provided in the side of the conduit adjacent the top portion of the expansion chamber. Thus, the heavier components of the fuel passing in through the nozzle 28 are forced across the entire extent of the active surface of the vibrator 34 and pass into the fuel conduit 40 through the orifice 42. The lighter fuel components which are atomized after a short contact period with the active surface pass upwardly in the expansion chamber and are drawn into the conduit 40 through the orifice 44. The vacuum in the carburetor housing created by the manifold of the internal combustion engine and the venturi effect of the air rushing into the manifold opening 16 from the air inlet 18 operates to draw the dispersed fuel from the expansion chamber 30 through the conduit 40. It will be noted that the diameter of the carburetor housing 14 is decreased in the area adjacent the fuel inlet 24 to increase the velocity of the air flow through the carburetor housing at this point. This increases the venturi effect which operates to draw the fuel-air emulsion into the carburetor housing.

' expansion chamber or the fuel line.

In FIG. 3, the vibrator 34 is positioned externally of the expansion chamber 30 by mounting the vibrator on a conduit section 46 connected between the expansion chamber and the fuel line 26. In this case, the vibrator constitutes a magnetostrictive vibrator having a core 48 provided with driving coils 50 connected to a suitable source of electric power. The core 48 is secured to the conduit section 46 and operates to vibrate the conduit s ection at sonic or ultrasonic frequencies.

It is important to note that unlike the vibrating nozzles' of the prior art, the conduit 46 is secured at either end so that the conduit vibrates in a rad ial mode and the vibration thereof is not concentrated'at a free end i as occurs in nozzle devices. Coupling rings 52 and 54 of vibration isolating material are secured to either end of the conduit 46 and couple the conduit to.the expansion chamber 30 and to a fuel inlet line from the coupling 36. These coupling rings prevent sonic vibrations from being transmitted by the conduit 46 to either the The internal surfaces of the conduit 46 operate as the active surface for the vibrator 34, and it is imperative that this conduit be dimensioned so that fuel passing therethrough is maintained in contact with the vibrating conduit surfaces. This results in the fuel passing entirely across the active surface of the vibrator and the atomized particles thereof are then directed into the expansion chamber 30 where dispersion occurs before passage through the fuel inlet 24 into the carburetor The vibrating conduit 46 is notto be confused with vibrating fuel conduits of known prior art f'devices wherein the fuel is injected through the center' of the conduit in spaced relationship with the [inner walls thereof. In such devices, sound vibrations from the inner walls are directed to the center of the conduit to contact fuel passing centrally therethrough, These devices are ineffective, for the attenuation of sound waves in air is extremely high, and it is not possible to achieve a concentration of sound waves passed froman active surface through an air space of sufficient amplitude to effectively atomize a fuel stream.. Therefore, it is important that the fuel passing through the conduit 46 be maintained in direct contact with the inner vibrating walls of.the conduit. I

When the vibrator 34 is placed in the input fuel section for a carburetor rather than internally within the carburetor housing, it is unnecessary to radically alter the structure of a conventional internal combustion en gine carburetor. Thus the carburetor retains the ability to operate'in the conventional manner for which it was designed, or the carburetor may operate in the sonic mode. As was indicated inconnection with FIG. I, the

sonic mode of operation is facilitated. To accomplish this automatic conversion, a mechanically or electrically operated valve 56 is placed in the fuel line 26 at a position before the conduit 46. This valve may be a spool valve or other valve of known construction capable of switching fluid flow from a first conduit to a second conduit. Extending from the valve 56 is a branch fuel line 58 terminating in a nozzle 60 within the carburetor housing 14. When it is desired to switch the operation of the carburetor 12 from the sonic mode of operation to the conventional mode of operation, the valve 56 is actuated to block the flow of fuel from the conduit 46 and to provide fuel into the branch line 58. Naturally, with the carburetor operating in the conventional mode, the sonic vibrator 34 will be deenergized, and if the valve 56 is an electrically operated valveQthe switch which activates the valve to provide fuel to the branch line 58 may also automatically deenergize the driving coils 50. Thus, for example, should the sonic system malfunction, the carburetor could be switched to the conventional mode to continue engine operation.

Manual switching from the sonic to the conventional mode of carburetor operation may be achieved by eliminating the automatic valve 56 and connecting the branch line 58 directly to the fuel inlet line 26. This manual switching may be then accomplished by the apparat'us of FIG. 4 wherein a cylindrical manually operated' valve 62 is positioned within the carburetor housing v14 and. is constructed to closely conform to the internal surface configuration of the carburetor housing. The valve 62 is rotatable relative to the carburetor housing 14, and includes flanges 64 and 66 which extend into tracks 68 and 70 cut in the internal surface of the carburetor housing. These tracks may be provided with suitable sealing means to seal the valve 62 to the carburetor housing to prevent fluid leakage therebetween.

Limited rotation of the valve 62 between two extreme positions is accomplished by means of a handle 72 secured to the valve and extending through a slot 74 in the carburetor housing. In one position of the valve 62, a valve port 76 therein is aligned with the fuel inlet nozzle 24 extending from the expansion chamber 30 of the sonic carburetor system, and the valve wall blocks any fuel input through the branch line 58. In a second position of' the valve 62, a second valve port 78 is aligned with the branch line 58, while the nozzle 24 is blocked by'the valve wall. Thus, by selective manual activation of the valve 62, the operation of the carburetor 12 may be switched from the sonic to the conventional mode.

Asjwas indicated with respect to the carburetor system embodiment of FIG. 3, it is imperative that when external vibrators are employed in conjunction with a The] feed conduit, the fuel must be maintained in intimate contact with the internal surfaces of the conduit which constitute the active surface of the vibrator. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate external vibrator configurations particularly adapated to accomplish this function.

With reference to FIG. 5, it will be noted that the vibrator 34 is externally mounted on an enlarged chamber 80 which may perform both the functions of the expansion chamber 30 and the vibrating conduit 46 of FIG. 3. This chamber is sonically isolated from the fuel inlet line 26 and an outlet line 82 to the fuel inlet 24 by the vibration isolation coupling rings 52 and 54.

To insure that fuel flowing into the chamber 80 from the fuel line 26 is maintained in contact with the vibrating walls of the chamber, fuel diverter sections 84 and 86 are provided within the chamber to direct the fuel magnetic coil 87 mounted upon the conduit 46, which in this case would constitute a tube of magnetostrictive 3 material. Thus the coil 87 combines with the magnetostrictive tube to form the sound wave producing device or vibrator 34.

Generally, the conduit 46 of FIG. 6 would be dii ected into an expansion chamber 30 in the manner il- -li1strated in FIG. 3, but for some applications, it is conceivable that the expansion chamber could be eliminated and the conduit 46 would be directly connected to the fuel inlet 24.

The carburetor housing 14 can be modified in such a manner that the fuel expansion chamber is formed within the confines of the carburetor housing. With the housing so modified, a smaller transducer or vibrator may still be employed as is illustrated in FIG. 7. Here, it will be noted that one wall of the carburetor housing 14 is angled inwardly to provide an inclined wall portion 88 which mates with a wall portion 90 extending substantially normal to the direction of air flow through the carburetor housing. The vibrator 34 is mounted between the wall portions 88 and 90 with the active surface 32 thereof extending through and parallel to the wall portion 88. The active surface of the vibrator is inclined substantially in the plane of the wall portion 88 so that the peripheral section thereof adjacent the manifold opening 16 is below the opposite fuel receiving peripheral section. Fuel is directed upon the higher peripheral section of the active surface by a fuel inlet nozzle 92 connected to the fuel line 26, and the fuel is driven downwardly across the extent of the active surface by air flowing in through the air inlet 18 under control of a conventional butterfly valve 94. The fuelair emulsion from the active surface of the vibrator 34 is driven past the juncture between the wall sections 88 and 90 by the incoming air stream, and is then diverted to a mixing chamber section 96 beneath the wall section 90. A turbulent air-fuel particle mixture results in the chamber 96 due to the uninterrupted high velocity flow of air from the air inlet 18 past the juncture between the wall sections 88 and 90. Thus, a further mixture of the air-fuel emulsion occurs in the chamber 96.

The active surface 32 of the vibrator 34 may be indented to form a flow channel as illustrated at 98 in FIG. 8 to conduct fuel flow more efficiently across the surface of the vibrator. This indented channel includes a narrow inlet end 100 to receive fuel from the nozzle 92. The walls of the channel curve outwardly to a wide open end 102 adjacent the discharge peripheral edge of the vibrator active surface.

With magnetically driven vibrators of the type known to the prior art, as illustrated by U.S. Pat. Nov 2,908,443 to Frank Frucngel, as well as with novel vibrators of the type illustrated in FIGS. 3, and 6, power loss is an inherent problem. Piezoelectric transducers provide a vibrator which requires less power and is more efficient. Also, it is known that piezoelectric transducers may be provided with power concentrators to obtain an enhanced power output from a smaller transducer surface. Such power concentrators are mechnically secured to the active surface of the transducer by bolts or other suitable fastening means so as to be driven by the transducer.

A piezoelectric transducer with a power concentrator designed in accordance with the novel concepts of the present invention provides an excellent vibrator which operates efficiently on less power than that required to drive magnetic vibrators. The use of a power concentrator generally results in some frequency loss, but the power gain achieved more than ofi'sets this loss.

FIGS. 9 to 11 illustrate several embodiments of the vibrator 34 which include piezoelectric transducers provided with power concentrators. In FIG. 9, the vibrator includes a piezoelectric transducer 104 having a power concentrator 106 secured by any suitable means to the active surface thereof. The power concentrator is merely an extension of the active surface of the transducer, and includes an active surface 108 which is of smaller area than the area of the transducer active surface. The active surface of the power concentrator is inclined so that fuel from the nozzle 28 is forced across the entirety of the active surface.

In H6. 10, a vibrator 34 is illustrated which includes a piezoelectric transducer 110 having a power concentrator 112 secured to the active surface thereof. A channel 114 is formed adjacent the outer end of the power concentrator and extends transversely therethrough. This channel receives a fuel stream from the nozzle 28, and the surfaces of the channel form the active surface for the power concentrator. Fuel enters the channel through an inlet 116 and passes across the entirety of the active surface to an outlet 118.

The vibrator 34 of FIG. 11 includes a piezoelectric transducer 120 which may be mounted on the wall of the expansion chamber 30. A channel 122 is formed through the center of the transducer to receive fuel from the nozzle 128.

Secured to the active surface of the piezoelectric transducer 120 is a power concentrator 124 having a stepped configuration. A fuel flow channel 126 communicating with the channel 122 extends longitudinally through the power concentrator and is displaced with respect to the central axis thereof. This off center positioning of the fuel flow channel causes fuel from the channel to be fed to one outer extremity of the active surface 128 of the power concentrator. This active surface is inclined so that fuel is forced across the entire extent thereof.

The vibrators of FIGS. 9-11 may be advantageously employed in the fuel inlet system for a carburetor, but these vibrators may also be positioned directly in the air stream within the carburetor.

It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the carburetor system of the present invention provides a simple, effective sonic carburetor unit which operates efficiently with a small vibrator active surface and minimal power requirements to achieve an enhanced fuel-air emulsification.

What is claimed is:

l. A carburetor system for connection between a fuel source and the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine comprising a carburetor housing defining an internal carburetor chamber, said housing including an air intake opening and an opening to said intake manifold, fuel input means for receiving fuel from said fuel source and providing a fuel dispersion to an airstream flowing within said carburetor chamber between said intake opening and said opening to the intake manifold, said fuel input means including an enclosed mixing chamber mounted externally of said carburetor housing and including outlet means connecting said mixing chamber to said internal carburetor chamber, a fuel inlet connected to provide fuel from said fuel source, and a sound wave producing means having an active vibrating surface to receive fuel from said fuel inlet and to impart sonic energy thereto, said active surface being formed by a fuel conduit section connected between said fuel inlet and said mixing chamber and having a first outer extremity positioned to receive fuel from said fuel inlet and a second outer extremity, said second outer extremity being positioned so that fuel passing to said mixing chamber is caused to move across the extent of the active surface between said first and second outer extremities, vibrator means connected to induce sonic vibrations in said fuel conduit section, and a fuel diverter means mounted within said fuel conduit section, said fuel diverter means operating to divert fuel from said fuel inlet outwardly against the inner surfaces of said fuel conduit section.

2. A carburetor system for connection between a fuel source and the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine comprising a carburetor housing defining an internal carburetor chamber, said housing including an air intake opening and an opening to said intake manifold, fuel input means for receiving fuel from said fuel source and providing a fuel dispersion to an airstream flowing within said carburetor chamber between said intake opening and said opening to the intake manifold, said fuel input means including an enclosed mixing chamber mounted externally of said carburetor housing and including outlet means connecting said mixing chamber to said internal carburetor chamber, a fuel inlet connected to provide fuel from said fuel source, and a sound wave producing means having an active vibrating surface to receive fuel from said fuel inlet and to impart sonic energy thereto, said active surface being formed by a fuel conduit section connected between said fuel inlet and said mixing chamber and having a first outer extremity positioned to receive fuel from said fuel inlet and a second outer extremity, said second outer extremity being positioned so that fuel passing to said mixing chamber is caused to move across the extent of the active surface between said first and second outer extremities, vibrator means connected to induce sonic vibrations in said fuel conduit section. and coupling means connected to opposite ends of said conduit section, said coupling means operating to prevent sonic vibrations from being transmitted by said coupling means to said mixing chamber and fuel inlet means.

3. A carburetor system for connection between a fuel source and the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine comprising a carburetor housing defining an internal carburetor chamber, said housing including an air intake opening and an opening to said intake manifold, fuel input means for receiving fuel from said fuel source and providing a fuel dispersion to an air' stream flowing within said carburetor chamber between said intake opening and said opening to the intake manifold, said fuel input means including a mixing chamber mounted externally of said carburetor housing, said mixing chamber being positioned beneath said carburetor housing, a fuel inlet opening into said mixing chamber connected to provide fuel from said fuel source, a sound wave producing means mounted within said mixing chamber and having an active vibrating surface to receive fuel from said fuel inlet and to impart sonic energy thereto, said active surface being angularly inclined relative to the central longitudinal axis of said fuel inlet and including a first outer extremity positioned to receive fuel from said fuel inlet and a second outer extremity opposite to and spaced from said first outer extremity, said second outer extremity being positioned so that fuel passing to said outlet means is caused to move across the extent of the active surface between said first and second outer extremities, and outlet means connecting said mixing chamber to said internal carburetor chamber, said outlet means including a conduit extending from said internal carburetor chamber into said mixing chamber and terminating at a position adjacent to the second outer extremity of said active surface, said conduit including a first aperture for the admission of a fuel-air mixture thereto adjacent the second outer extremity of said active surface and a second aperture positioned above said first aperture adjacent the upper portion of said mixing chamber.

4. A carburetor system for connection between a fuel source and the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine comprising a carburetor housing defining an internal carburetor chamber, said housing including an air intake opening and an opening to said intake manifold, fuel input means for receiving fuel from said fuel source and providing a fuel dispersion to an air stream flowing within said carburetor chamber between said intake opening and said opening to the intake manifold, said fuel input means including an enclosed mixing chamber mounted externally of said carburetor housing and including outlet means connecting said mixing chamber to said internal carburetor chamber, a fuel inlet opening into said mixing chamber connected to provide fuel from said fuel source, said outlet means opening into said mixing chamber at a point above the position at which said fuel inlet delivers fuel to said mixing chamber, and a sound wave producing means mounted within said mixing chamber and having a substantially flat, active vibrating surface positioned between said fuel inlet and said outlet means to receive fuel from said fuel inlet and to impart sonic energy thereto, said active surface being inclined upwardly and including a first outer extremity positioned adjacent said fuel inlet to receive fuel from said fuel inlet and a second outer extremity opposite to and spaced from said first outer extremity, said second outer extremity being positioned adjacent the point at which said outlet means opens into said mixing chamber so that fuel passing to said outlet means is caused to move across the extent of said active surface between said first and second outer extremities.

5. A carburetor system for connection between a fuel source and the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine comprising a carburetor housing defining an internal carburetor chamber, said housing including an air intake opening and an opening to said intake manifold, fuel input means for receiving fuel from said fuel source and providing a fuel dispersion to an airstream flowing within said carburetor chamber between said intake opening and said opening to the intake manifold, said fuel input means including a mixing chamber mounted externally of said carburetor housing and including outlet means connecting said mixing chamber to said internal carburetor chamber, a fuel inlet connected to provide fuel from said fuel source, a sound wave producing means having an active vibrating surface to receive fuel from said fuel inlet and to impart sonic energy thereto before passing said fuel to said mixing chamber outlet means, said active surface being angularly inclined relative to the central longitudinal axis of said fuel inlet and including a first outer extremity positioned to receive fuel from said fuel inlet and a second outer extremity opposite to and spaced from said first outer extremity, said second outer extremity being positioned so that fuel is caused to move across the extent of the active surface between said first and second outer extremities, a fuel line extending between said fuel source and said fuel inlet, a branch line connected to receive said fuel from said fuel line, said branch line being connected to a secondary fuel nozzle mounted to provide fuel to said internal carburetor chamber, and valve means operative in a first condition to cause fuel to be provided to said internal carburetor chamber through said mixing chamber outlet means and in a second condition to cause fuel to be provided to said internal carburetor chamber from said secondary fuel nozzle.

6. The carburetor system of claim 5 wherein said valve means includes a two position valve connected between said fuel line and said branch line.

7. The carburetor system of claim 5 wherein said valve means includes a cylindrical valve conforming to the inner surface of said internal carburetor chamber and mounted for rotation relative to said carburetor housing, said cylindrical valve including actuating means for rotating said valve extending through said carburetor housing and first and second valve ports positioned for alignment with said mixing chamber outlet means and secondary fuel nozzle respectively, said second valve port being out of alignment with said secondary nozzle when said first valve port is in alignment with said mixing chamber outlet means and said first valve port being positioned out of alignment with said mixing chamber outlet means when said second valve port is moved into alignment with said secondary fuel nozzle.

8. A carburetor system for connection between a fuel source and the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine comprising a carburetor housing defining an internal carburetor chamber, said housing including an air intake opening and an opening to said intake manifold, fuel input means for receiving fuel from said fuel source and providing a fuel dispersion to an airstream flowing within said carburetor chamber between said air intake opening and said opening to the intake manifold, said fuel input means including an enclosed mixing chamber mounted externally of said carburetor housing and including outlet means connecting said mixing chamber to said internal carburetor chamber, a fuel inlet opening into said mixing chamber connected to provide fuel from said fuel source, and a sound wave producing means mounted within said mixing chamber and having an active vibrating surface to receive fuel from said fuel inlet and to impart sonic energy thereto, said active surface including a first outer extremity positioned adjacent said fuel inlet to receive fuel from said fuel inlet and a second outer extremity opposite to and spaced from said first outer extremity, said second outer extremity being positioned adjacent to said outlet means so that fuel passing to said outlet means is caused to move across the extent of the active surface between said first and second outer extremities, said sound wave producing means including sonic transducer means having an active surface for producing sonic wave energy and power concentrator means secured to the active surface of said sonic transducer means and having a concentrator active surface which forms the fuel receiving active vibrating surface for said sound wave producing means, said power concentrator means including an elongate body portion extending from a base portion secured to the activesurface of said sonic transducer means to a terminal end portion including said concentrator active surface which forms the terminal end surface of said terminal end portion and is a substantially flat surface which is inclined rela tive to the central longitudinal axis of said elongate body portion, said concentrator active surface being inclined upwardly from said first outer extremity to position said second outer extremity in a plane above said first outer extremity.

9. The carburetor system of claim 8 wherein said fuel inlet includes a fuel conduit means in said power concentrator means which extends substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis of said body portion but which is offset therefrom, said fuel conduit means operating to deliver fuel through said power concentrator means to a point adjacent the first outer extremity of said concentrator active surface.

10. The carburetor system of claim 9 wherein said body portion is formed to provide a concentrator active surface which is of a smaller area than the area of the active surface of said sonic transducer means. 

1. A CARBYRETOR SYSTEM FOR CONNECTION BETWEEN A FUEL SOURCE AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE COMPRISING A CARBURETOR HOUSING DEFINING AN INTERNAL CARBURETOR CHAMBER, SAID HOUSING INCLUDING AN AIR INTAKE OPENING AND AN OPENING TO SAID INTAKE MANIFOLD, FUEL INPUT MEANS FOR RECEIVING FUEL FROM SAID FUEL SOURCE AND PROVIDING A FUEL DISPERSION TO AN AIRSTREAM FLOWING WITHIN SAID CARBUTETOR CHAMBER BETWEEN SAID INTAKE OPENING AND SAID OPENING TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, SAID FUEL INPUT MEANS INCLUDING AN ENCLOSED MIXING CHAMBER MOUNTED EXTERNALLY OF SAID CARBURETOR HOUSING AND INCLUDING OUTLET MEANS CONNECTING SAID MIXING CHAMBER TO SAID INTERNAL CARBURETOR CHAMBER, A FUEL INLET CONNECTED TO PROVIDE FUEL FROM SAID FUEL SOURCE, AND A SOUND WAVE PRODUCING MEANS HAVING AN ACTIVE VIBRATING SURFACE TO RECEIVE FUEL FROM SAID FUEL INLET AND TO IMPART SONIC ENERGY THERETO, SAID ACTIVE SURFACE BEING FORMED BY A FUEL CONDUIT SECTION CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID FUEL INLET AND SAID MIXING CHAMBER AND HAVING A FIRST OUTER EXTREMITY POSITIONED TO RECEIVE FUEL FROM SAID FUEL INLET AND A SECOND OUTER EXTREMITY, SAID SECOND OUTER EXTREMITY BEING POSITIONED SO THAT FUEL PASSING TO SAID MIXING CHAMBER IS CAUSED TO MOVE ACROSS THE EXTENT OF THE ACTIVE SURFACE BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND OUTER EXTREMITIES, VIBRATOR MEANS CONNECTED TO INDUCE SONIC VIBRATIONS IN SAID FUEL CONDUIT SECTION, AND A FUEL DIVERTER MEANS MOUNTED WITHIN SAID FUEL CONDUIT SECTION, SAID FUEL DIVERTER MEANS OPERATING TO DIVERT FUEL FROM SAID FUEL INLET OUTWARDLY AGAINST THE INNER SURFACES OF SAID FUEL CONDUIT SECTION.
 2. A carburetor system for connection between a fuel source and the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine comprising a carburetor housing defining an internal carburetor chamber, said housing including an air intake opening and an opening to said intake manifold, fuel input means for receiving fuel from said fuel source and providing a fuel dispersion to an airstream flowing within said carburetor chamber between said intake opening and said opening to the intake manifold, said fuel input means including an enclosed mixing chamber mounted externally of said carburetor housing and including outlet means connecting said mixing chamber to said internal carburetor chamber, a fuel inlet connected to provide fuel from said fuel source, and a sound wave producing means having an active vibrating surface to receive fuel from said fuel inlet and to impart sonic energy thereto, said active surface being formed by a fuel conduit section connected between said fuel inlet and said mixing chamber and having a first outer extremity positioned to receive fuel from said fuel inlet and a second outer extremity, said second outer extremity being positioned so that fuel passing to said mixing chamber is caused to move across the extent of the active surface between said first and second outer extremities, vibrator means connected to induce sonic vibrations in said fuel conduit section, and coupling means connected to opposite ends of said conduit section, said coupling means operating to prevent sonic vibrations from being transmitted by said coupling means to said mixing chamber and fuel inlet means.
 3. A carburetor system for connection between a fuel source and the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine comprising a carburetor housing defining an internal carburetor chamber, said housing including an air intake opening and an opening to said intake manifold, fuel input means for receiving fuel from said fuel source and providing a fuel diSpersion to an airstream flowing within said carburetor chamber between said intake opening and said opening to the intake manifold, said fuel input means including a mixing chamber mounted externally of said carburetor housing, said mixing chamber being positioned beneath said carburetor housing, a fuel inlet opening into said mixing chamber connected to provide fuel from said fuel source, a sound wave producing means mounted within said mixing chamber and having an active vibrating surface to receive fuel from said fuel inlet and to impart sonic energy thereto, said active surface being angularly inclined relative to the central longitudinal axis of said fuel inlet and including a first outer extremity positioned to receive fuel from said fuel inlet and a second outer extremity opposite to and spaced from said first outer extremity, said second outer extremity being positioned so that fuel passing to said outlet means is caused to move across the extent of the active surface between said first and second outer extremities, and outlet means connecting said mixing chamber to said internal carburetor chamber, said outlet means including a conduit extending from said internal carburetor chamber into said mixing chamber and terminating at a position adjacent to the second outer extremity of said active surface, said conduit including a first aperture for the admission of a fuel-air mixture thereto adjacent the second outer extremity of said active surface and a second aperture positioned above said first aperture adjacent the upper portion of said mixing chamber.
 4. A carburetor system for connection between a fuel source and the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine comprising a carburetor housing defining an internal carburetor chamber, said housing including an air intake opening and an opening to said intake manifold, fuel input means for receiving fuel from said fuel source and providing a fuel dispersion to an airstream flowing within said carburetor chamber between said intake opening and said opening to the intake manifold, said fuel input means including an enclosed mixing chamber mounted externally of said carburetor housing and including outlet means connecting said mixing chamber to said internal carburetor chamber, a fuel inlet opening into said mixing chamber connected to provide fuel from said fuel source, said outlet means opening into said mixing chamber at a point above the position at which said fuel inlet delivers fuel to said mixing chamber, and a sound wave producing means mounted within said mixing chamber and having a substantially flat, active vibrating surface positioned between said fuel inlet and said outlet means to receive fuel from said fuel inlet and to impart sonic energy thereto, said active surface being inclined upwardly and including a first outer extremity positioned adjacent said fuel inlet to receive fuel from said fuel inlet and a second outer extremity opposite to and spaced from said first outer extremity, said second outer extremity being positioned adjacent the point at which said outlet means opens into said mixing chamber so that fuel passing to said outlet means is caused to move across the extent of said active surface between said first and second outer extremities.
 5. A carburetor system for connection between a fuel source and the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine comprising a carburetor housing defining an internal carburetor chamber, said housing including an air intake opening and an opening to said intake manifold, fuel input means for receiving fuel from said fuel source and providing a fuel dispersion to an airstream flowing within said carburetor chamber between said intake opening and said opening to the intake manifold, said fuel input means including a mixing chamber mounted externally of said carburetor housing and including outlet means connecting said mixing chamber to said internal carburetor chamber, a fuel inlet connected to provide fuel from said fuel source, a sound wave producing means having an active vibrating surface to receive fuel from said fuel inlet and to impart sonic energy thereto before passing said fuel to said mixing chamber outlet means, said active surface being angularly inclined relative to the central longitudinal axis of said fuel inlet and including a first outer extremity positioned to receive fuel from said fuel inlet and a second outer extremity opposite to and spaced from said first outer extremity, said second outer extremity being positioned so that fuel is caused to move across the extent of the active surface between said first and second outer extremities, a fuel line extending between said fuel source and said fuel inlet, a branch line connected to receive said fuel from said fuel line, said branch line being connected to a secondary fuel nozzle mounted to provide fuel to said internal carburetor chamber, and valve means operative in a first condition to cause fuel to be provided to said internal carburetor chamber through said mixing chamber outlet means and in a second condition to cause fuel to be provided to said internal carburetor chamber from said secondary fuel nozzle.
 6. The carburetor system of claim 5 wherein said valve means includes a two position valve connected between said fuel line and said branch line.
 7. The carburetor system of claim 5 wherein said valve means includes a cylindrical valve conforming to the inner surface of said internal carburetor chamber and mounted for rotation relative to said carburetor housing, said cylindrical valve including actuating means for rotating said valve extending through said carburetor housing and first and second valve ports positioned for alignment with said mixing chamber outlet means and secondary fuel nozzle respectively, said second valve port being out of alignment with said secondary nozzle when said first valve port is in alignment with said mixing chamber outlet means and said first valve port being positioned out of alignment with said mixing chamber outlet means when said second valve port is moved into alignment with said secondary fuel nozzle.
 8. A carburetor system for connection between a fuel source and the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine comprising a carburetor housing defining an internal carburetor chamber, said housing including an air intake opening and an opening to said intake manifold, fuel input means for receiving fuel from said fuel source and providing a fuel dispersion to an airstream flowing within said carburetor chamber between said air intake opening and said opening to the intake manifold, said fuel input means including an enclosed mixing chamber mounted externally of said carburetor housing and including outlet means connecting said mixing chamber to said internal carburetor chamber, a fuel inlet opening into said mixing chamber connected to provide fuel from said fuel source, and a sound wave producing means mounted within said mixing chamber and having an active vibrating surface to receive fuel from said fuel inlet and to impart sonic energy thereto, said active surface including a first outer extremity positioned adjacent said fuel inlet to receive fuel from said fuel inlet and a second outer extremity opposite to and spaced from said first outer extremity, said second outer extremity being positioned adjacent to said outlet means so that fuel passing to said outlet means is caused to move across the extent of the active surface between said first and second outer extremities, said sound wave producing means including sonic transducer means having an active surface for producing sonic wave energy and power concentrator means secured to the active surface of said sonic transducer means and having a concentrator active surface which forms the fuel receiving active vibrating surface for said sound wave producing means, said power concentrator means including an elongate body portion extending from a base portion secured to the active surface of said sOnic transducer means to a terminal end portion including said concentrator active surface which forms the terminal end surface of said terminal end portion and is a substantially flat surface which is inclined relative to the central longitudinal axis of said elongate body portion, said concentrator active surface being inclined upwardly from said first outer extremity to position said second outer extremity in a plane above said first outer extremity.
 9. The carburetor system of claim 8 wherein said fuel inlet includes a fuel conduit means in said power concentrator means which extends substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis of said body portion but which is offset therefrom, said fuel conduit means operating to deliver fuel through said power concentrator means to a point adjacent the first outer extremity of said concentrator active surface.
 10. The carburetor system of claim 9 wherein said body portion is formed to provide a concentrator active surface which is of a smaller area than the area of the active surface of said sonic transducer means. 